Building construction



Sept; 5, 1944. E. M. WALSH Y BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 29, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 1 TTORNE Y Sept. 5, 19 44. .E, WALSH BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 29, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 r 'JNVENTOR BY Z2741 M 14 419 W bM l\||l IIIIIUIJ I I .Illll llll ili I mi 1 Zia Patented Sept. 5, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Edgar M. Walsh, Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich. Application October 29, 1941, Serial No. 4 16,954

9 Claims.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved exterior wall construction which may be finished completely in a single operation, which is completely fireproof and waterproof, which has a high insulating value, and which is inexpensive to construct and maintain. V t

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive, fireproof and waterproof wall construction susceptible to various architectural treatments to represent shingle Walls, clapboard walls, log walls, and the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cinder or concrete block wall including an exterior weatherproof facing therefor erected with the wall whereby to provide a complete wall construction for low cost housing, country homes, and the like where permanency and weather resist ance with substantially no upkeep are essential.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent by reference to the following detailed I description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective showing wall construction embodying the invention employing standard rectangular backing blocks.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig.1. v v

Fig. 3 is a View in perspective of a typical facing unit preferably employed.

Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of a left-hand corner facing unit preferably employed.

-Fig. 5 is a view in perspective of the flashing stripsprefera'bly employed below the joints between facing units in the embodiment of the invention disclosed in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view of another embodiment of the invention which employs sloping faced backing blocks rather than standard rectangular backing blocks.

Fig. 7 is a view in perspective of a typical facing unit employable with sloping faced backing blocks.

Fig. 8 is a view in perspective of a left-hand corner facing unit employable with sloping faced backing blocks.

Fig. 9 is a view in perspective of flashing strips preferably employed below the joints of facing units in the embodiment of the invention disclosed in Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive. I

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view of still another embodiment of the invention wherein the completed wall represents a log wall.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary elevational view of the wall disclosed inFig. 10.

t Fig. 12 is a side elevational view of a filler block employed behind the flashing'in the construction disclosed in Figs. 10 and 11.

Fig. 13 is a frontelevational View of the filler block shown in Fig. 12. p Fig. 14 is a view in perspective of flashing strips preferably employed below the joints of facing units in the embodiment of the invention disclosed inFigs. 10 to -14 inclusive.

Referring now to theldrawings wherein like numerals refer to like and corresponding parts tlrroughout the several Views, the illustrative embodiment of the invention disclosed in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive comprises a Wall 20 ofrectangular cinder or concrete backingblocks 2| faced with facing units 22 anchored in the horizontal joints 23 ofcmentitious material between horizontal rows of backingblocks Zl with a suitable flashing 24 of such material as copper or bronze sheet, permanently waterproofed building paper, orthe like disposed to the rear of the vertical joints 25 and below the horizontal joints 26 between the ends of laterallyadjacent facing units 22.

The facing units 22 are preferably formed of asbestos-cement tile, or othersuitable water and weatherproof material into inverted L-shaped sections having a rearwardly extending anchorage tongue 21 whichis laid over the backing blocks 2| as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2 after the flashing 24 is positioned over the said blocks laterally central with respect to the vertical and horizontal joints 25 and26 between facing units 22. A rearwardly extending anchorage tongue 28 of the inverted L-shaped flashing 24 pre erably employed is suitably apertured as indicated by the numeral 240 in Fig. 5 to register with suitable apertures 220' formed in the tongue 2'! of the facing units 22 asindicated in Fig. 3 to admit of mortar or like cementitious material in the horizontal joints 23 between the backing blocks 2| to extend therethrough for the purpose of anchoring the said wall facing units 22 to the backing blocks 2| whereby to provide a complete unitary structural and weather-faced wall 20 in a single erection operation and without employing separate wall ties, nailing, grounds for nailing, mechanical anchors, or the like.

.The facing units 22 are preferably deeper than the height of one course of backing blocks 2| and are tapered at 22 to be thicker hear the bottom thereof than at the top thereof and are longi in the completed wall as indicated by the numeral 29 in Fig. 2. The tapering 22| and notching 222 of the facing units 22 as indicated in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 permit their use with rectangular backing blocks 2| without the completed wall 20 becoming out of plumb. The depending portion 30 of the flashing 24 is preferably narrower than the anchorage tongue 28 thereof to save material. The said depending portion 30 of the flashing 24 may be offset near the bottom thereof as indicated by the numeral 3| in Fig. to accommodate it to the horizontal weather lap 29 between rows of facing units 22.

Although the facing units 22 have been shown shingle width in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, obviously, they may be constructed in long lengths to imitate clapboards. In laying up a wall 20, left-hand and right-hand corner facing units 32 and 33 respectively are preferably employed to form a right angle corner as shown in Fig. 1. A lefthand facing unit 32 is illustrated in Fig. 4 and is provided with tapers 32|, notches 322, and an anchorage tongue 31 having apertures 320 therein, all like and similar to a typical wall unit 22. By cutting a few typical facing units 22 and lefthand and right-hand corner facing units 32 and 33 respectively to desired widths, any person skilled in masonry and building may lay-up a completed wall 20 to any desired dimension and leave any desired openings therein.

The embodiment of the invention disclosed in Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive is like and similar to the embodiment of the invention disclosed in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive except that the backing blocks are provided with a tapered front face and the wall units are neither notched or tapered.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive, the illustrative embodiment of the invention disclosed comprises a wall 40 of rectangular cinder or concrete backing blocks 4| having an outwardly and downwardly tapered face 4 0 faced with facing units 42 anchored in the horizontal joints 43 of cementitious material between horizontal rows of backing blocks 4| with a suitable flashing 4,4 of such material as copper or bronze sheet, permanently waterproofed building paper, or the like disposed to the rear of vertical and horizontal joints between the ends of laterally adjacent facing units 42.

The facing units 42 are preferably formed of asbestos-cement, tile, or other suitable water and weatherproof material into inverted substantially L-shaped sections having a rearwardly extending anchorage tongue 41 disposed at an angle slightly greater than 90 degrees with respect to the main or depending portion 42| thereof. The anchorage tongue 41 of the facing units 42 is laid over the backing blocks 4| as indicated in Fig. 6 and the outwardly sloping depending portion 42| thereof is on such an angle with respect to the said. anchorage tongue 41 as will cause the said depending portion 42| to follow the slope of the outwardly and downwardly tapered face 410 of the backing blocks 4|. The rearwardly extending anchorage tongue 48 of the inverted substantially L-shaped flashing 44 preferably employed is suitably apertured as indicated by the numeral 440 in Fig. 9 to register with suitable apertures 420 formed in the anchorage tongue 41 of facing units 42 as indicated in Fig. 7 to admit of mortar or like cementitious material in the horizontal joints 42 between the backing blocks 4| to extend therethrough for the purpose of anchoring the wall facing units 42 to the backing blocks 4| whereby to provide a complete unitary structural and weather-faced Wall 40 in a single erection operation without employing an independently constructed backing wall, wall ties, nailing, nailing grounds, mechanical anchors, or the like.

The facing units 42 are preferably deeper than the height of one course of backing blocks 4| to provide a weather lap in the completed wall as indicated by the numeral 49 in Fig. 5. The tapering of the face of the backing blocks 4| and the forming of the facing units 42 to lay on the taper of the flashing blocks, 4| permit their use without employing notched or thickened facing units 42. The depending portion 50 of the flashing 44 is preferably narrower than the anchorage tongue 48 thereof to save material.

Although the facing units 42 have been shown in shingle width, obviously, they may be constructed in long lengths to imitate clapboards. In laying up a wall 40, left-hand and right-hand corner facing units are employed alternately at the corners of such walls. A left-hand corner facing unit 52 is illustrated in Fig. 8 and is provided with outwardly sloping depending portions 52| and an anchorage tongue 5! having apertures520 therein, all like and similar to a typical wall unit 42. By cutting a few typical facing units, left-hand corner facing units, and right-hand corner facing units to desired widths, any person skilled in masonry and building may lay-up a completed wall 40 to any desired dimension and have any desired openings therein,

The embodiment of the invention disclosed in Figs. 10 to 15 inclusive is like and similar to the embodiments of the invention previously described except that the facing units are formed to represent logs whereby to provide a log cabin effect of the completed structure.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive, the illustrative embodiment of the invention disclosed comprises a wall of rectangular cinder or concrete backing blocks 6| faced with facing units 62 anchored in the horizontal joints 63 of cementitious material between horizontal rows of backing blocks 6| with a suitable flashing 64 of material such as copper or bronze sheet, permanently waterproofed building paper, or the like disposed to the rear of and below vertical and horizontal joints between laterally adjacent facing units 62. Filler blocks 65 are employed behind the flashing 64 to hold the said flashing 64 tightly against the rear of the outwardly curved log representing portion 62| of the said facing units 62,

The facing units 62 are preferably formed of asbestos-cement, tile or other suitable water and weatherproof material into inverted L-shaped sections having a rearwardly extending anchorage tongue 61 disposed at right angles with respect to the upper part 66 of the depending portion 62| thereof which is formed curved to a radius and exteriorly ornamented as indicated in Figs. 10 and 11 t6 represent the surface of a log. The lower end 622 of the depending portion 62| of the facing unit 62 terminates outwardly with respect to the upper part 66 of the depending portion 62| of the subjacent facing unit 62 when laid up in a wall to accommodate the lower end GM of the flashing 64 and to permit the wall 60 to be laid up plumb.

The flashing 64 is formed inverted L-shaped and is curved at 64| to lie complementary to the inside of the curved depending portion 62| of the facing unit 62 and is provided with a rearwardly extending anchorage tongue 68 suitably apertured as indicated by the numeral 640 in Fig. 14

'to register with suitable apertures 620 formed in the anchorage tongue 61 of facing units 62 as indicated in Fig. to admit of mortaror like cementitious material in the horizontal joints 63 between the backing blocks 6| to extend therethrough for the purpose of anchoring the wall facing units 62 to the backing blocks 6| whereby to provide a complete unitary structural and weather-faced log simulating wall 6|] in a single erection operation.

Filler blocks 65 have a front curved face 65! and ar preferably placed between the back of the curved portion 64I of the flashing 64 at all vertical joints between facing units 62 to hold the flashing 64 out against the rear of the curved depending portion GM of the said facing units 62 and to prevent water from running into the space between the said facing units 62 and the backing blocks 6|. blocks 65 is preferably provided with a horizontal notch 65!) thereacross to permit them to clear the upper part 66 .of the depending portion 621 of the'facing unit 62 therebelow, see Figs. 10, 12 and 13. Mortar or mastic or like cementitious material 10 may be employed to fill up any space that may occur between the said filler blocks 65 and the backing blocks BI and the flashing 64, and to hold the filler blocks 65 in place during erection of the wall 60. The depending curved portion 6 H of the flashing 64 is preferably narrower than the anchorage tongue 68 thereof to save material.

The log representing facing units 62 may be of any suitabl width to represent any length of log that is convenient to handle. The said facing units 62 are preferably colored or stained to the color of logs. Theends of facing units 62 and the backing blocks 65 may be mitered or otherwise formed to provide suitable corner construction for structures employing the invention.

Although but several embodiments of the invention have been disclosed and described in detail, it is obvious that many changes may be made in the size, shape, arrangement and detail of the various elements of the invention, therefore, it is intended that all matter contained in the description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In a wall construction, in combination with a plurality of masonry backing blocks laid up in tiers having horizontally disposed cementitious joints therebetween, a facing therefor composed of a plurality of laterally adjacent vertically overlapping facing units, each facing unit including a rearwardly extending tongue anchored in the horizontal cementitious joints between said backing blocks, and a flashing strip disposed behind the joints between adjacent facing units, each flashing strip including a rearwardly extending tongue anchored in the horizontal cementitious joints between backing blocks below the tongue of said facing units.

2. In a wall construction, in combination with a plurality of masonry backing blocks laid up in tiers having horizontally disposed cementitious joints therebetween, a facing therefor composed of a plurality of laterally adjacent vertically overlapping facing units, each facing unit including a rearwardly extending tongue having apertures therethrough anchored in the horizontal cementitious joints between said backing blocks, a flashing strip disposed behind the joints between adjacent facing units including a rearwardly ex- The rear of the said filler tending tongue on each flashing strip having apertures therethrough disposed below the tongues of the said facing units in registry with said apertures through the said tongues of said facing units anchored in the horizontal cementitious joints between backing blocks.

3. In a wall construction, in combination with a plurality of masonry backing blocks laid up in tiers having horizontally disposed cementitious joints therebetween, a facing therefor composed of a plurality of laterally adjacent vertically tapered overlapping facing units longitudinally notched across the back of the'lower end thereof to overlap the upper end of the next subjacent-facing unit, each facing unit including a rearwardly extending tongue at the top thereof anchored in the horizontal cementitious joints between said backing blocks, and a flashing strip disposed behind the joints between adjacent facing units, each flashing strip including a rearwardly extending tongue anchored in the horizontal cementitious joints between backing blocks below the tongues of said facing units.

4. In a Wall construction, in combination with a plurality of masonry backing blocks laid'up in tiers having horizontally disposed cementitious joints therebetween, a facing therefor composed of a plurality of laterally adjacent vertically tapered overlapping facing units longitudinally notched across the back of the lower end thereof to overlap the upper end of the next subjacent facing unit, each facing unit" including a rearwardly extending tongue at the top thereof having apertures therethrough anchored in the horizontal cementitious joints between said backing blocks, and a flashing strip disposed behind the joints between adjacent facing units including a rearwardly extending tongue on each flashing strip having apertures therethrough disposed below the tongues of the said facing units in registry with said apertures through the said tongues of said facing units anchored in the horizontal cementitious joints between backing blocks.

5. In a wall construction, in combination, a plurality of masonry backing blocks having an outwardly and downwardly tapered face laid up in tiers with the backs thereof in vertical alignment, horizontally disposed cementitious joints between said backing blocks, a facing composed of a plurality of laterally adjacent vertically overlapping facing units lying parallel to the tapered face of said backing blocks, each facing unit including a rearwardly extending tongue at the top thereof anchored in the horizontal cementitious joints between said backing blocks, and a flashing strip disposed behind the joints between adjacent facing units, each flashing strip including a rearwardly extendin tongue anchored in the horizontal cementitious joints between backing blocks below the tongues of said facing units.

6. In a wall construction, in combination, a plurality of masonry backing blocks having an outwardly and downwardly tapered face laid up in tiers with the backs thereof in vertical alignment, horizontally disposed cementitious joints between said backing blocks, a facing therefor composed of a plurality of laterally adjacent vertically overlapping facing units lying parallel to the tapered face of said backing blocks, each facing unit including a rearwardly extending tongue at the top thereof having apertures therethrough anchored in the horizontal cementitious joints between said backing blocks, and a flashing strip disposed behind the joints between adjacent facing units including a rearwardly extending 'tongue on each flashing strip having apertures therethrough disposed below the tongues of the said facing units in registry with said apertures through the said'tongues of said facing units anchored in the horizontal cementitious joints between backing blocks.

7. In a wall construction, in combination with a 'pluralit of masonry backing blocks laid up in tiers having horizontally disposed cementitious joints therebetween, a facing therefor composed. of a plurality of laterally adjacent vertically overlapping outwardly curved facing units, each facing unit including a rearwardly extending tongue anchored in the horizontal cementitious joints between said backing blocks, a flashing disposed behind the joints between adjacent facing units, and a filler between said backing blocks and said flashing holding said flashing against the back of the outwardly curved portion of said facing units, each flashing including a rearwardly' extending tongue anchored in the horizontal cementitious joints between backing blocks below the tongue of said facing units.

8. In a wall construction, in combination with a plurality of masonry backing blocks laid up in tiers having horizontally disposed cementitious joints therebetween, a facing therefor composed of a plurality of laterally adjacent vertically overlapping outwardly curved facing units, each facing unit including a rearwardly extending tongue having apertures therethrough anchored in the horizontal cementitious joints between said backing blocks, a flashing disposed behind the joints between adjacent facing units including a rearwardly extending tongue on each flashing having apertures therethrough disposed below the tongues of the said facing units in registry with said apertures through the said tongues of said facing units anchored in the horizontal cementitious joints between backing blocks, and a filler between said backing blocks and said flashing holding said flashing against the back of the outwardly curved portion of said facing units.

9. A facing for walls constructed of masonry backing blocks laid up in tiers having horizontally disposed cementitious joints therebetween comprising aplurality of laterally adjacent vertically overlapping facing units each including an outwardly curved portion representing a log, a vertically disposed upper section over which the lower end of the outwardly curved portion of the next above facing unit laps, a tongue extending rearwardly from the top thereof in anchored relationship in the horizontal cementitious joints between said backing blocks, a flashing disposed behind the joints between adjacent facing units including a rearwardly extending tongue disposed below the tongues of said adjacent facing units in the horizontal cementitious joints between said backing blocks, and a filler between said backing blocks and said flashing holding said flashing against the back of the outwardly curved portion of said facing units.

EDGAR M. WALSH. 

